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The paper, in which the details of that work are given, although it does not bear the signature of Sir Bernard, has the indorsement and form of an official copy; and the inaccuracies in the orthography, and in the composition, disclose the hand of a foreigner, and afford internal proof of its genuineness. The details are too voluminous to be inserted here, but the amount of one of the estimates is given, and some details of the other.

The parallelogram, whereof the two sides, north and south, were to be 800 feet long, and the west and east sides 600 feet, was estimated to cost £29,260, beside the cost of the site.*

The specification and estimate for the proposed pentagon are given, in order to show the great expense to be incurred for piles for a foundation; and the heading is curious, for it suggests that the bastion in the centre of the south side, should extend to low watermark.

The estimate of the Pentagone-to lowe water marke, with the Stoone Bastion.

The Free Stone, Anchor Stones, and Cramping with Iron and Lead, £1600. The bricke wall 40 foote high, 12 foote in the bottom, 8 foote at the topp, £2450. 32 Butteryses, 24 foote backwards from the inside of the brickwall, 6 foote broad, 10 foote distance, and to turne the arches over, for making the breadth of the Rampart, £3840. For Pyles to the Foundation to the said Butteryses, £4608. For Pyles to the Foundation to the Bastion, £4320. For Elme planeks to cover the Foundations, £102. For long Baux of 30 and 34 foote long for makeing of a Frame to be laid and fastened upon the pyles, £140. For labourers to drive the said pyles in the ground, £300. For making of 16 Portholes, 2 foot above high Water marke into the brickwall, being a lower teyer Canon-2 doors for each Port-hole, with iron Barrs, locks and keys, £368. For cleiring of the foundation and to keepe it dry, besides severall charges which doe fall in the building of such a worke, £600. For makeing of a Frame of Timber in severall partitions against the outside of the brick wall being made 2 foote belowe high water, against the wall, and sloop to low Water marke, filled in the middle with stones for preventing the force of the water that it doe not damage the Stone Wall, £1000. 1200 long pyles of 12 inches square and 24 foote long to be drove in the ground without, 24 or 30 foote from the

Sloanian MS., No. 2448, art. 27, Brit. Mus. Indorsed, “ Estimat made by Sr Ber. de Gomme, of two new forts, the one a pentagon, and the other a parallelogram, at the ould Block-House at Tilbury Fort.

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Stone Wall for preventing any Shipping comeing to the fortification, £900

The Earthenwourck, &c.

Pentagono

£20228 00 00

27220 00 00

£47448 00 00

The accompanying plan of the present fort, taken from a drawing made by order of government, in the year 1724, proves that the suggestion of a pentagon was adopted, though the bastion in the centre of the south side has never been completed. The stone gateway marked in the plan is not mentioned in the specification of the pentagon, but it was in that for the parallelogram, and the estimated cost of it, was £634.

The powder magazines, seen in the plan, were erected about the years 1716 and 1724.*

According to an inscription† on the stone gateway, the fort was constructed about the year 1682: but this probably was the date of the commencement of the work, or the completion of that portion of it, for the following extracts, from official accounts, (which will be interesting to the local reader,) show that it was not completed before the year 1687. These extracts will also confirm the fact that has been assumed, that Sir Martin Beckman and Sir Bernard de Gomme were both employed in the King's service, at the time when the works of the fort were in progress.

From "Order Book, 1687." Ordnance Office Tower.

14th April, 1687. That Sr Ber de Gomes Draught of Tilbury be delivered to Sr Hen. Sheere his Maties Surveyor to be by him considered of. That when the Surveyor goes next to Tilbury he take care to remove ye guns on Gravesend side to Tilbury, leaving only such small guns as he shall think fitt, and yt ye platformes y' are not of use be taken up and applied to those that are of use, and yt care be taken to repaire ye Rain-tanks at Tilbury and to make them serviceable as soon as can be.

That Sir Martin Beckman go down to Tilbury on Munday next, and examine ye condicion of the Ravelyn to face it within and without with

* See plans of them, in a Book of Drawings, in the King's Library, British Museum.

+ Carolus II., Rex, A Reg. xxxiv.

bricke, and to face ye inside of the outermost spurr before ye north redoubt, to bring up an estimate what the charge will be.

That the Surveyor take care to drawe an estimate of finishing ye Land-port Gate at Tilbury, and yt ye contract made formerly with ST Wm Prichard be shewed to ye Surveyor.

10th May. The repairing of ye way leading from ye Old Road at Tilbury, upon ye peticion of Edw. Clayton is referred to S Hen. Sheere, who is to report to my Lord,* wt is best to be done for his Maties service. 2nd June. 3000 tons of chalk for West Bastion by Anth Oxnand, Anth Aubrey, &c.

9th June. That Mr. Baylie have a warrant to send downe his men to Tilbury Forte, to prime and lay in wainscot colour in oil ye Armoury there, and that he faile not to have them there next Thursday.

5th July. That Lt. Coll. St. Claire to be writt to, to get the order of sessions, to enjoine the severall parishes in repairing the Highway rented by Edw. Clayton at Tilbury, who have promised soe to doe continually after the King hath made the first repaire.

11th August. That orders be issued to the plumber to repaire ye pump in ye great cisterne at Tilbury, and yt Clayton ye Carpenter make coverings to all ye cisternes.

18th August. That a Flagg of Beauport be sent to Tilbury for ye round Tower.

27th August. That Anth. Oxnard, Anth. Aubrey, and Robt. Barker at Tilbury be directed to go in hand with repairing and making good ye great Sluice or Trunke which carrieth ye water from ye Round Tower there into ye river of Thames: their demand is 15 but that is to be regulated by Sr. H. Sheere.

11th October. Do for Tilbury of ye charge of conveying ye Water in leaden pypes from ye West Barracks to ye great Cisterne there, £39. 6s.

8th December. Sending ye particulars downe to Tilbury Forte, they being provided for ye house of ye Storekep Wm Legge, Esq., living there for his Maties Service.

10th December. That the Storekeeper be writ to, to contract for a Stepp Ladder to be fitted for going to ye building over the gateway, which is to be a lodging for his Clerke; y' he pay ye plumber, &c.

That an Armourer be forthwith sent downe to cleane ye Arms at Tilbury, and as they are cleaned ye Storekeeper take Care to place them in ye new Armoury in the best manner he can.

George, Lord Dartmouth, was Master General of the Ordnance, in the year 1687.

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